The House Without a Key (serial)
Encyclopedia
The House Without a Key is a 1926
mystery
film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
. It is based on the novel of the same name
and is the first onscreen appearance of the fictional detective Charlie Chan
, although the main stars are Allene Ray
and Walter Miller
. The film is now considered to be lost
.
1926 in film
-Events:*August - Warner Brothers debuts the first Vitaphone film, Don Juan. The Vitaphone system used multiple 33⅓ rpm disc records developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric to play back audio synchronized with film....
mystery
Mystery film
Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film and at times the thriller genre. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.The...
film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet
Spencer Gordon Bennet
Spencer Gordon Bennet was an American film producer and director. Known as the "King of Serial Directors", he directed more film serials than any other director.-Biography:...
. It is based on the novel of the same name
The House Without a Key
The House Without a Key is a novel that was written in 1925 by Earl Derr Biggers. It is the first of the Charlie Chan mysteries written by Biggers....
and is the first onscreen appearance of the fictional detective Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
, although the main stars are Allene Ray
Allene Ray
Allene Ray was a motion pictures actress from San Antonio, Texas, USA. She moved to Hollywood after winning a motion picture contest in 1920. In 1919, a producer visiting San Antonio met Ray and insisted she take a part in a film he was making...
and Walter Miller
Walter Miller (actor)
Walter Miller was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 248 films between 1911 and 1940.He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack, aged 48...
. The film is now considered to be lost
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
.
Cast
- Allene RayAllene RayAllene Ray was a motion pictures actress from San Antonio, Texas, USA. She moved to Hollywood after winning a motion picture contest in 1920. In 1919, a producer visiting San Antonio met Ray and insisted she take a part in a film he was making...
- Carry Egan - Walter MillerWalter Miller (actor)Walter Miller was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 248 films between 1911 and 1940.He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack, aged 48...
- John Quincy Winterclip - E. H. CalvertE. H. CalvertE. H. Calvert was an American film actor and director. He appeared in over 170 films, as well as directing a further 60 titles...
- Dan Winterclip - Betty Caldwell - Barbara Winterclip
- Natalie Warfield - Minerva Winterclip
- Jack Pratt - James Egan
- William BaileyWilliam BaileyWilliam Bailey was an American actor. He appeared in 222 films between 1911 and 1959. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Bailey died in Hollywood, California in 1962 at the age of 76.-Selected filmography:...
- Harry Jennison (as William Norton Bailey) - Frank LackteenFrank LackteenFrank Lackteen was a Lebanese-born American film actor best known for his antagonistic roles. He appeared in nearly 200 films between 1916 and 1965, including several Three Stooges shorts. He was born in Kubber-Ilias, Lebanon and died in Los Angeles, California...
- Kaohla - George KuwaGeorge KuwaGeorge Kuwa was a Japanese and American Issei film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 58 films between 1916 and 1931...
- Charlie ChanCharlie ChanCharlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu... - Harry SemelsHarry SemelsHarry Semels was an American film actor. He appeared in over 315 film between 1917 and 1946.-Career:Semels appeared in his first film in 1917. He began to achieve fame after arriving at Columbia Pictures, appearing several Three Stooges shorts including Disorder in the Court, Wee Wee Monsieur and...
- Saladine - Charles WestCharles West (actor)Charles West was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 303 films between 1908 and 1937.He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:...
- Bowker (as Charles H. West) - John CossarJohn CossarJohn Hay Cossar was an English actor of the silent era. He appeared in 146 films between 1914 and 1929.He was born in London, England and died in Hollywood, California. He was the fifth child of Walter Cossar and his wife Kate Lyster. Walter was in the Royal Marines between 1835 and 1863...
- District Attorney - Scott Seaton - Detective
- Cliff Saum - Kennedy
- John Webb DillonJohn Webb DillonJohn Webb Dillon was an English actor. He appeared in 89 films between 1911 and 1947. He was born in London and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:* Romeo and Juliet...
- Shia Jung - The young Chinese girl (uncredited)